Reporting to the President & Chief Executive Officer, the Chief Legal Officer (CLO) is responsible for the leadership and management of all National MS Society legal strategy as well as the enterprise-wide risk management program to ensure effective delivery of all components of the Society’s mission. The CLO will be a strategic and specialized operational business partner who enables and contributes to the overall growth and success of the Society.
The CLO provides legal support and counsel in support of multiple areas focused on nonprofit activities, including corporate and tax compliance, revenue-generation strategies and charitable solicitations, employment and benefit regulations, borrowing and lending transactions, cybersecurity, internal audit, and program-related legal issues.
The CLO is consistently engaged in complex and sensitive activities and must be able to exercise independent judgment, significant discretion, and decision making on issues of financial, human, and reputational risk and impact. Addressing challenges ranging from the routine to the complex and directing implementation of solutions, this leader acts in a fashion which maximizes the mission of the Society and protects its corporate integrity. Effective communication to ensure trust and confidence as well as accountability to adoption, consistent technology usage, and continuous improvement is critical to success. They will recognize, understand, and act upon insights from external factors (national and international) relevant to the Society and its industry sector. The CLO will anticipate short and long-term implications of decisions, follow the Society’s decision-making model, and support effective communication to ensure public trust and confidence.
This leader oversees the Legal and Risk Management team presently comprising four staff, which is complemented as needed by outsourced legal counsel. The CLO ensures priority work is conducted through a dynamic and adaptable staff committed to team, culture, and accountability on outcomes.
As a member of the Society’s Executive Leadership Team (ELT) and Society Leadership and Management Team (SLMT), the incumbent must maintain a broad knowledge of the Society, consistently demonstrate the Society’s operating principles and cultural values, and contribute appropriately to organization-wide strategic discussions. Importantly, they will provide clarity on governance and institute appropriate organizational checkpoints on compliance matters. This position also has direct access to the Chair of the National Board of Directors and will serve as staff lead for various committees of the National Board or management.